What it’s like to stay in a vintage bus on the edge of the dam – 01/13/2024 – Tourism
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With just over 13 thousand inhabitants, Joanópolis is known as the werewolf capital. But it is not exactly the folkloric creature that has attracted tourists to this small town 120 kilometers from São Paulo — but rather, unusual accommodation options for those looking for peace and quiet close to the capital of São Paulo.
Among them is Casa 0362 which, despite the name, is not really a house, but a Mercedes-Benz bus from the 1970s restored and adapted to function as accommodation. Parked on a plot of land on the edge of the Jaguari-Jacareí dam, 12 km from the center of Joanópolis, the bus is a must for those who want to isolate themselves from the chaos of the big city, but with a dose of comfort.
While on the outside the bus is very reminiscent of Flecha Azul, a classic Viação Cometa bus that ran until the end of the 1990s, on the inside it looks more like a renovated São Paulo micro-apartment.
Just behind the driver’s seat, kept there as if he had just parked it, there is a sofa bed (where two adults sleep with a bit of a squeeze) and a dining table whose chairs are the original bus seats – all in leather purple, reinforcing an air of nostalgia.
Still on the right side of the bus, towards the back, is the bathroom. It’s cramped, with the sink outside, but with a transparent ceiling that gives the feeling of taking a bath in the middle of nature. And at the back of the bus is a queen size double bed (also under a transparent roof with typical bus curtains).
On the other side, a bench brings together the bathroom and kitchen sinks (properly separated), a coffee machine, various utensils, a stove and refrigerator as old as the vehicle itself and a gas fireplace for cold days. There is also a retro rack that holds dozens of records and, of course, a record player.
Even though the bus has a television, the atmosphere focuses attention on the vehicle’s record collection. There are LPs by big names in Brazilian music, such as Chico Buarque, Maria Bethânia and Gal Costa, as well as examples of American South music — highlighting “Have a Good Time”, by Al Green, and “Knock on Wood”, by Amii Stewart . A Bluetooth box connected to the record player also allows you to enjoy the sound outside the bus.
Outside there is another dining table and a bench with a freezer and barbecue, which makes everything feel like a luxury camp. It is even possible to light a fire: a few meters below, a metal pyre surrounded by wooden chairs sets the atmosphere for this evening program.
But if the weather is still summer, the best thing to do is make the most of the day, cooling off in the natural water shower, also outside, or in the dam, which is just a few steps from the bus. The bottom, somewhat muddy, may not seem very inviting at first, but the water is clean and makes for a swim.
Those who prefer to also make the most of their time enjoying other experiences that are booked separately. Among the options, there is a massage with a massage therapist, wakeboarding (R$ 1,400 for 2 hours), a speedboat ride on the dam (R$ 750 for two people, for two hours), a day of fishing around the dam with boat and equipment included ( R$750) and a gastronomic experience in which a chef prepares a full lunch or dinner outside the bus (R$550 for two people).
House 0362
Access via the road. Entre Serras e Águas (SP-036), about 9km from Joanópolis. Daily rates from R$859 for up to four people on Airbnb. Instagram: @casa0362.
The journalist stayed at the invitation of Casa 0362
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